Home Automation Newbie

P

psaini

Member
Hi guys

I have seen someone using home automation and using home seer for controlling over internet.

Now i dont have any knowledge about it... i want to do it at my home... controlling all lights and installing camera, speakers.. etc.. and what ever can be done.

Is there any guide or something which can tell me how this things works and how can i control them and what can be done for home automation.

I have to start with cabling but please help me out will really appreciate it

One thing always keeps on coming to my mind how can some one control lights over internet

Thanks
paul
 
paul aus said:
oberkc said:
paul aus said:
No replies...
Click to expand...

I don't use homeseer, so I cannot help directly. Have you tried a google search on Homeseer? It appeared as though there were some useful information there.
Click to expand...

As i said before i dont know much about it... tell me where to start from or please give me some info about what you are using??

Thanks
Click to expand...
HomeSeer is a software home automation server whose control interface is via a web pages, so you can control devices from any web browser. The main function of a home automation system is to be able to communicate status and commands between devices (a light switch sends ON/OFF commands to several light controllers around the house, motion detectors controlling lights, temperature and rain sensors providing input to your sprinkler control system). There are several different systems/protocols to choose from that use different communications protocols (powerline, wired, wireless). A home automation controller like HomeSeer can be used to bring all of the stuff together, including multiple communications protocols. A wireless motion detector can cause an event to be run in HomeSeer that sends commands across the powerline to turn on some lights and at the same time send wireless commands to control several other lights. HomeSeer also allows you to specify events to run based upon time of day, sunset/sunrise, detection of devices that change their status (ON/OFF) or a certian temperature (for instance). You can also write scripts that can do very sophisticated things.

HomeSeer is extended to support mutlitple device types and protocols via software plugins. As new devices and protocols become available, someone writes a plugin to allow HomeSeer to use them. Recently, home energy monitoring has become popular and several new devices have become available and there are plugins availabe for each of them.

The HomeSeer web page allows you to display the status of all of these HA devices and to control them as well -- from any web browser. In addition, you can write programs to interface to HomeSeer remotely to get status and control devices. An example is a desktop gadget that can be run on any windows computer and communicates with HomeSeer across the network to display the status of devices and control them as well.

http://www.tenholder.net/tenWare2/tenHsDesktop

tenholde
 
First off Welcome to Cocoontech... Please give us a little more then a few hours in the wee hours of the morning to reply... There is alot of information on the forum and in our WIKI. I recommend you read the wiring your new house guides in my signature. I know you are not doing a full pre wire but it gives me alot of useful information and tips on what you can do. Home Seer is a automation package on the computer you will need hardware to talk to it. You need to decide how far and what you budget is going to be. Most of us chip away alittle at a time. For Lights you have 3 main technologies Hard Wired, communications over power line, and Wireless. They all have advantages and disadvantages. Price, reliability, and setup/wiring are just a few... Beyond lighting you can get into meny other relms.. weather station to controlling sprinklers, to home security being tied in..

Home seer is only one software application there are more some free, and some that cost thousands... you will have to test the water per say as they all have advantaged and disadvantages also. most have limited trial editions you can download from their websites.

With a bit more information we might be able to give you some direction but the choices are yours and yours alone.
 
paul aus said:
Hi guys

I have seen someone using home automation and using home seer for controlling over internet.

Now i dont have any knowledge about it... i want to do it at my home... controlling all lights and installing camera, speakers.. etc.. and what ever can be done.

Is there any guide or something which can tell me how this things works and how can i control them and what can be done for home automation.

I have to start with cabling but please help me out will really appreciate it

One thing always keeps on coming to my mind how can some one control lights over internet

Thanks
paul
Click to expand...

#1 what is your budget?
#2 is this Do it Yourself or do you just want to get educated before hiring a pro?

This is what I have running my own home.
Lights - RadioRa2
Control System - Eventghost (Free DIY grade software based automation controller)
Control Computer - Silverstone LC10 case "component" sized, fits in 2U rack space nicely
Secondary Controller - Globalcache GC100 (master bedroom)
HVAC - HAI Omnistat (controlled by Eventghost)
Shades - (ordering next week) Lutron QS wireless controlled by RadioRa
Audio - Onkyo 875 3 zone receiver (controlled by eventghost)
Audio Zones - Master Bedroom, Deck, Living Room 5.1
Video Source 1 - One DirecTV HR20 (controlled by eventghost) feeding powered 4 way HDMI splitter
Video Source 2 - Control Computer running XBMC for video/music
Video Zones - Bedroom, Livingroom, Deck, and Basement Desk computer monitor
Remote Control - iPad and 2 iPhones running CommandFusion iViewer

Everything is integrated through the iPad/iPhone

If you are DIY and did a varient on this system you would need to learn about:
RS232 communication protocols for your equipment
EventGhost
CommandFusion

It would be a steep learning curve
 
tenholde said:
paul aus said:
oberkc said:
paul aus said:
No replies...
Click to expand...

I don't use homeseer, so I cannot help directly. Have you tried a google search on Homeseer? It appeared as though there were some useful information there.
Click to expand...

As i said before i dont know much about it... tell me where to start from or please give me some info about what you are using??

Thanks
Click to expand...
HomeSeer is a software home automation server whose control interface is via a web pages, so you can control devices from any web browser. The main function of a home automation system is to be able to communicate status and commands between devices (a light switch sends ON/OFF commands to several light controllers around the house, motion detectors controlling lights, temperature and rain sensors providing input to your sprinkler control system). There are several different systems/protocols to choose from that use different communications protocols (powerline, wired, wireless). A home automation controller like HomeSeer can be used to bring all of the stuff together, including multiple communications protocols. A wireless motion detector can cause an event to be run in HomeSeer that sends commands across the powerline to turn on some lights and at the same time send wireless commands to control several other lights. HomeSeer also allows you to specify events to run based upon time of day, sunset/sunrise, detection of devices that change their status (ON/OFF) or a certian temperature (for instance). You can also write scripts that can do very sophisticated things.

HomeSeer is extended to support mutlitple device types and protocols via software plugins. As new devices and protocols become available, someone writes a plugin to allow HomeSeer to use them. Recently, home energy monitoring has become popular and several new devices have become available and there are plugins availabe for each of them.

The HomeSeer web page allows you to display the status of all of these HA devices and to control them as well -- from any web browser. In addition, you can write programs to interface to HomeSeer remotely to get status and control devices. An example is a desktop gadget that can be run on any windows computer and communicates with HomeSeer across the network to display the status of devices and control them as well.

http://www.tenholder.net/tenWare2/tenHsDesktop

tenholde
Click to expand...


Thanks for help guys lots of good information.. Appreciate it

Started reading the links you guys have mentioned

My plan is to DIY over a period of time and i am not sure about the budget yet cause i am not sure about the components and what they do... etc etc

I am looking for info like if i want to do this what do i need for it... like if i want to control my lights via computer what are the components i need for it and how do i install them..

so please throw in more useful links and guides i got night shifts coming up got to make a better use of them :)


Thanks
 
Fiasco said:
www.commandfusion.com
www.eventghost.com
www.lutron.com/radiora2
www.globalcache.com
Click to expand...

okay i think i want to start with controlling the lights in different rooms via computer i will add motion sensors afterwards, Could you guys tell me how and where to start from?

Thanks
Paul
 
Paul, you've received lots of suggestions and links to go read. You need to do A LOT of reading so that you at least get some of the basics of the various technologies and how to apply them. Only then can you make some decisions on where to spend your money to meet your needs. How and where to start can only really be decided by you once you determine which technologies you want to use. Keep in mind as you research that some manufactures are aligned with certain technologies more than others so their discussion forums may steer you in a certain direction. e.g. Homeseer endorses and sells Z-Wave and HAI endorses UPB with their own HLC line. A starter kit that includes a couple of light modules/switches and a computer interface is probably where you want to start, but the question is, which technology to use? You need to do your research to answer that.
 
JonW said:
Paul, you've received lots of suggestions and links to go read. You need to do A LOT of reading so that you at least get some of the basics of the various technologies and how to apply them. Only then can you make some decisions on where to spend your money to meet your needs. How and where to start can only really be decided by you once you determine which technologies you want to use. Keep in mind as you research that some manufactures are aligned with certain technologies more than others so their discussion forums may steer you in a certain direction. e.g. Homeseer endorses and sells Z-Wave and HAI endorses UPB with their own HLC line. A starter kit that includes a couple of light modules/switches and a computer interface is probably where you want to start, but the question is, which technology to use? You need to do your research to answer that.
Click to expand...


Hi Jonw

Thanks for your help mate.. ya i am doing lots of reading and trying to understand all the technologies... pretty excited.

One question comes to my mind do i need to change all the switches in my house if i need to control them??

please advise
 
paul aus said:
JonW said:
Paul, you've received lots of suggestions and links to go read. You need to do A LOT of reading so that you at least get some of the basics of the various technologies and how to apply them. Only then can you make some decisions on where to spend your money to meet your needs. How and where to start can only really be decided by you once you determine which technologies you want to use. Keep in mind as you research that some manufactures are aligned with certain technologies more than others so their discussion forums may steer you in a certain direction. e.g. Homeseer endorses and sells Z-Wave and HAI endorses UPB with their own HLC line. A starter kit that includes a couple of light modules/switches and a computer interface is probably where you want to start, but the question is, which technology to use? You need to do your research to answer that.
Click to expand...


Hi Jonw

Thanks for your help mate.. ya i am doing lots of reading and trying to understand all the technologies... pretty excited.

One question comes to my mind do i need to change all the switches in my house if i need to control them??

please advise
Click to expand...

Hi Paul

if looking at a hardwired lighting solution i would suggest looking a Clipsal CBUS ...Heres a link to my setup i did back in 2003...

http://www.hobby.armaghelectrical.com.au/page38.html

HTH
Frank
 
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